Ring spring suspension for automobiles



A ril 23, 1935. o. R. WHKANDER RING SPRING SUSPENSION FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Jan. 30, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet l Illl April 23, 1935. o, R. WIKANDER 1,998,477

I RING SPRING SUSPENSION FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Jan. 30, 1950 s Sheets-Shet 2 1 max Arifl 23, El35 o. R. WIKANDER 1,993,477

RING SPRING SUSPENSION FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Jan. so. 1930 e $heets$heet s April 23,1935.

0. R. WKKANDER RING SPRING SUSPENSION FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Jan. 30, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 April 23, 1935. 1 Q. R. WEKANDER RING SPRING SUSPENSION FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Jan. 30, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 April 23, 1935. o. R. WIKANDER 1,998,477

RING SPRING SUSPENSION FOR AUTOMOBILES File Jan. 30, 1930 e Sheets-Sheet e ILIMLLLIJIIIIIJI Patented Apr. 233, @35

STATES raisin rarest orrica RING SlPlBlING SUSPENSINDN MOB;

AUTQMKDIEIILES Application January 3E9, 119%, Serial No 424,591

5 Claims.

This invention relates in general to suspension or spring assemblies for vehicles, and while it has more particular reference to spring suspen-= sion assemblies for automobiles and the like, it will be readily understood that the invention has other and. more general application. A principal object oi this invention is the provision or an improved. suspension or axle assembly for rnotordriven vehicles which, while being fully resilient and sensitive to minor vibrations and shocks, will absorb the more severe impacts and jars with minimum recoil and rebound oi the vehicle body.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of an improved spring suspension for motor-driven vehicles in which the more severe jars and shocks are absorbed in friction springs which dissipate or spread the energy absorbed from impact in the friction of the cushioning springs with corresponding reduction in recoil or rebound.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of an improved vehicle spring suspension which will interpose frictional resistance to both impact and rebound, i. e. which will cushion sudden movement of the vehicle body in. both up and down directions.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a combined axle and spring s pension assembly which, particularly when employed at the front of a motor-driven vehicle, prcvic es axle construction of great strength and st The invention contemplates in this regard the mounting of the shock absorbing cush element in a tube which forms a part of c111 the engaging portion of the n whee at the other side of vehicie,

the tires against semi-5mg thus undue Numerous other objects and. advantages oi the invention will be apparent as it is better nnderstood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred. embodiment thereot.

In the drawings,

Figure l is a partial front elevation of an automobile provided with a spring suspension or axle 5 assembl embodying the instant invention, pasts being broken away and shown in. section to dis close certain details of construction;

Fig. 2 is a section taken substantially on. the line 22 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 3 is a section taken-substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, parts being omitted;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial sectional view of one of the spring unit assemblies;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of an axle and spring suspension assembly, parts of the automobile chassis and the wheels being omitted;

Fig. 6 is a section taken substantially on. the line t--t of Fig. 4;

Figs. 7 and 8 are fragmentary sectional views through the friction spring organization; and

Figs. 9, 10, l1 and 12 are partial sectional views showing the relative positions of the parts assumed as an incident to the absorption and cushioning or impact and recoil.

Figure 1 of the drawings shows somewhat sche inatically the front or" an automobile or other motor vehicle. On this figure reference charac ter 25 indicates the wheels, reference character generally the main member of the front anle and spring suspension embodying the invention, reierencecharacter the radiator, r ence character 2 the chassis. The connection of the axle and. spring suspension assembly to the wheels will be described in detail hereinafter. It may be mentioned, however, e; the mechanism indicated by ierence character 25 is the brake control, and the mech cated by reference hnracter is device.

In th embodiment the inventio the drawings, the springs and vices are arranged within which constitutes rnajor le the vehicle also a wheels su assis from this tubidar i er irons also the sprin shock drain emits it contains. One or these units is arran each side vehicle, e. at the tubular member, each pendently of other, both o simultaneously and in conjunc pact or shoot: is sustained simultaneously.

Each spring unit consists in the press bodiment of the invention or a ncn=fric spring 36 which sustains and absorbs the shocks and. vibrations in service, and a friction spring 32 and a non-friction spring which to= gether receive and absorb the more severe shocks worse the two and impact. The spring 32 of the unit is arranged in parallel with the spring 33 and these two springs are arranged in series with the spring 3|. The housing and controlling members for these springs are preferably so constructed and arranged that all function in initial relative movements between the wheels and chassis and are so constructed that when the relative movement between the chassis and wheels has exceeded a predetermined amount the spring 3| is rendered inactive and the forces of impact are sustained by the parallelly arranged friction spring 32 and the non-friction spring 33.

The housing and controlling members are preferably also arranged so as to cause the friction spring 32 to receive and absorb the shock of recoil and reduce the rebound of the chassis and car body. The non-friction springs are or may be of the ordinary coil type, and the friction spring is preferably of the ring spring construction shown, described and claimed in United State Letters Patent to Ernest Kreissig, No. 1,515,346. Particular description of the non-friction spring and of the ring spring is not believed necessary.

It may be mentioned, however, that the spring consists of an outer and an inner set of ring elements. The ring elements of the outer set indicated by reference character 34 in Figs. '7 and 8 are provided with oppositely extending internal bevelled faces 35, and the ring elements 36 of the inner set are provided with bevelled faces 31 formed to mate with and slidably engage the bevelled faces 35 of adjacent outer ring elements 34. All of the rings of both sets are or may be continuous and the spring action is accomplished by the stretching of the material of the outer ring elements and the compression of the material of the inner. It will be readily observed that a ring spring of this character absorbs a considerable percentage of the force of compression in friction between the engaging surfaces in contracting. Ring springs, constructed and arranged as above set forth, absorb a considerable percentage of the shocks and jars sustained which are dissipated in friction. Accordingly for the purposes of this invention, these springs are referred to as friction springs and the coil springs as non-friction springs.

The tube 4| which forms the outer or main member of the axle and which houses the two spring assemblies is secured at each end to a supporting bracket 42 in turn connected at 43 and 44 with the chassis of the vehicle. A plug or head 45 is threadedly engaged at 46 in each end of the tube and if desired a set screw 41 may be provided to hold the parts in desired assembled relation. The springs 3|, 32 and 33 are arranged back of the head or plug 45 and between it a movable disk or plate 48; A rod or bolt 49 is positioned through an aperture 5| in the head 45, through the springs and through an aperture 52 in the plate 48, the head 53 of the rod or bolt 49 being disposed in a recess or countersink 54 in the plate 48.

A sleeve 55 is provided about the rod 49 and within the springs 31, 32 and 33. This sleeve has an integral enlargement 56 at its inner end and an enlargement 5'! at its outer end, the last mentioned enlargement being provided by a flanged collar threadedly engaging the sleeve 55 at 58. The friction spring 32 is arranged between the collar 5'! and intermediate disk or plate 59 which is loosely mounted upon the sleeve. The spring 3| is arranged between the the plate 59.

plate 59 and the plate 48. The spring 33 is concentric to the spring 32 and bears at one end upon the head or plug 45 and at the other against The arrangement of the springs is such, as will be observed, that the collar 51 is normally pressed against the head 45 by the friction spring 32 and this collar extends over the portion of the opening 5! which is not occupied by the rod 49.

A tube 62 is fixed within the axle tube 4| and forms a stop for the inward movement of the plate 59. A floating sleeve 63 is arranged to closely embrace and slide upon an enlargement 56 of the sleeve 55 and this sleeve also under certain conditions to be later explained forms a stop for the plate 59.

Each wheel is connected to its axis and to its spring assembly by a parallel motion device which consists principally of an upper connector or link 64 and a lower connector or link 65. Viewing Fig. 1 of the drawings, it will be noted that the link 65 is made longer than the link 64, the purpose of this being to permit easy control of the spread between the road engaging portions of the tire, the arrangement in the embodiment shown on the drawings reserving substantially a uniform distance between them as the wheels move in service. The upper link or connector swinging about a shorter radius moves the bottom of the tire outwardly to compensate for the inward movement of the wheel body. As the body and wheels move relatively as the result of jars and shocks in service, the links are or may be so proportioned as to cause the wheels to merely tilt about the points engaging the road surface throughout the range of movement permitted by the spring suspension, thereby preventing scufling or dragging of the tires crosswise of the road bed.

Each of the links 64 and 65 preferably consist of a well reinforced generally rectangular skeleton member. The link 64 consists of two side members 66 and cross reinforcing parts 61 and 68. A bearing rod or pivot 69 is arranged through the cross member 68 and extends into or through bearing lugs H of the bracket 42. The outer ends of the members or parts 66 of the link 64 are suitably pivoted at 12 to the king pin carrying member I3 of the wheels. Link 65 is similarly constructed and is pivoted to a shaft 14 carried in a bearing 15 at the lower end of the bracket 42.

In the embodiment of the invention shown on the drawing, the link or connector 65 is provided with lugs 16 extending rearwardly and arranged on opposite sides of the bearing 75. The

shaft 14 extending through this bearing and through these lugs provides pivotal connection. The link or connector 65 has outwardly or forwardly extending lugs 11 which are pivoted to the king pin carrying member 13 by a pivot pin 18".

The link or connector 64 is provided with two downwardly extending arms 19 which are apertured horizontally to receive an oscillating cross shaft 8| held in place by end plates 82. This cross shaft BI is provided with a transverse aperture 83 and the bolt or rod 49 of the spring assembly extends therethrough. A bushing 84 is arranged about the rod 49 and the shaft 8| to provide flat bearing surfaces for a nut 85 carried on the end of the rod or bolt 49 and for an inner collar 86 fixed upon the rod 49.

A shield 81 of accordion plaited construction and of annular form is clamped at its outer edge seesaw at Sit to the head or plug 65 and is secured at $9 to the sleeve or collar 8%, the purpose of this shield being to prevent dirt, sand and the like. from entering into the spring construction in service.

The action of the parts will perhaps be best understood by reference to Figs. '9 and 12. Each of these figures is a partial section showing a half of the spring suspension assembly at an axle end. The difierence between the position of the parts in the several figures is occasioned by different conditions of service and relative move ment of the vehicle body with respect to the wheels as an incident to shock or impact. The small circle indicated at 69 in each view rep= resents the pivot 69 of the upper link or connector tit and the dotted and dash line depending from this circle schematically illustrates the several positions of the downwardly extending arms l9.

it shows the desired relation of the parts when adjusted to properly support the vehicle in normal relation of the chassis and body to the wheel. Viewing this figure, it will be noted that the plate which is arranged between the springs and 33 on the one hand and the spring Si on the other, is freely floating in this poshtion, minor shocks and vibrations will be taken up by expansion and contraction of the springs and the friction spring 32 being inactive.

when, however, the wheels are forced up= wardly upon encountering an obstruction or prominent irregularity in the road, the parts are forced toward the relationship shown in Fig. 9. Movement of the belt or rod lii toward the right, viewing Fig. 9, first causes the floating sleeve to he forced by the end plate All; over into contact with the intermediate plate Continued movement causes compression of the springs and alone, the plate 23 acting through the floating sleeve and intermediate plate to compress the friction spring against the collar 5] and the non-friction spring directly %ainst the plug 65. 9 represents what may be considered a limit of movement in this direction.

impact and consequent compression of the s; ings as just described, they return toward nor osition have, course, a tendency to l of such recoil and rebounding action gs. and 12. F om the posi a, the lever and the s; "13.5;

that

lg the positions there she belt or the collar 5i and moves toward resisted in this movement by the lotion spring since the plate is with presented end of the sleeve will thus Toe observed that the friction spring comes into action to resist excessive relative and down movement hetween the wheels and chassis and body in both directions.

0n:- or more lugs may be provided to en= tend down from the hearing lugs it to engage a shoulder 92 and limit the parts in their movement.

Adjustment of the spring suspension unit is accomplished by shifting the cross shaft 3! and the bushing 86 lengthwise of the bolt or rod 39 (reference being had to Fig. 4). The nut may be loosened and the bolt is turned by engagement with a square end 93 or other suitable formation. Rotation of the bolt, of course, moves it in or out within the collar 86 and after adjustment the nut may be tightened and a cotter pin 95 may be inserted to lock the nut in place. I; desired, a set screw 95 or other suitable locking mechanism may be employed .to prevent accidental turning of the collar tt upon the bolt 69 in service.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the static load of the sprung body is carried by the frictionless coil spring devices so that the minor oscillations are received by and absorbed in the frictionless coil spring devices and oscillations of more violent character, i. e. oscillations causing the body to move relatively oi the frame beyond predetermined limits are received by and absorbed in the frictional ring springs, the frictional resistance increasing in magnitude at a rate greater than increase of oscillation.

it is thought that this invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that many changes may he made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all oi its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described .being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A vehicle suspension assembly, comprising a mounting, a friction spring within said mounting, a coil spring within said mounting in series with said friction spring, a vehicle supporting member, and connections between said member and said springs for resisting movement of said member in either direction.

2. A vehicle suspension assembly, comprising a mounting, a friction spring within said mounting a coil spring within said mounting in series with-said friction. spring, a vehicle supporting member, connections between said member and said springs for resisting movement oi said inernher in either direction, and means rendering said coil. spring inactive predetermined movement.

3. A vehicle suspension assembly, comprising a meinb a friction spring mounted wit n tubular member, a non r ted in series with said friction s i anon g, an end si mounted parallel with riction spring and in series with the first mentio ed non-- friction spring, a member maintained i normal vehicle supporting position by said spi e, and connections between said member said springs having parts com ressing said springs movement of said member in direc tion from said normal vehicle supportng posi tion.

4. vehicle suspension assembly, comprising a chassis, brackets fixedly secured to opposite ends of the chassis, a tubular housing fixedly located between said brackets, a friction spring within said tubular housing, a coil spring serially connected with said friction spring, and another coil spring coaxial with said friction spring, a vehicle supporting member operatively connected with said springs, said springs being adapted to resist movement of said member from normal position in either direction.

5. A vehicle suspension assembly, comprising a chassis, brackets fixedly secured to said chassis at opposite ends thereof, a tubular housing fixed- 1y interposed between said brackets, a friction spring within said tubular housing, a coil spring within said tubular housing and serially connected with said friction spring, a floating disk interposed between said two springs within said tubular housing and permanently engaged with the ends of the spring directed towards each other, another spring coaxially alined with the friction spring, a vehicle supporting member operatively connected with said springs, said springs normally maintaining said supporting member in a neutral position and resisting movement of said supporting member from said neutral position in either direction, and means for rendering the first named coil spring inactive after a predetermined movement.

OSCAR R. WIKANDER. 

